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Episcopalians Consider Gay Unions

Updated 04.21.17 4:28PM ET / Published 07.06.12 7:21AM ET

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Gay Episcopalians may soon be able to get married in their own church. 16 years after homosexual faithful were first permitted to become priests, the church is considering introducing a new rule that blesses marriages between couples of the same sex. If this new liturgy is approved, Episcopalians would become the first major religious denomination to take such action to support same-sex unions. Still, while the special blessing uses traditional phrases like "I do," and "we have gathered together here today," and includes the exchange of rings, the words "husband," "wife" and "marriage," are nowhere to be found, making it clear that this blessing of same-sex unions is not exactly a full-on marriage equality endorsement.